Te Akau Trials' Report

Trials Monday 9 December at Riccarton -

Weather: fine, track: Good3, rail: out 9 metres

Heat 5 Open 1000 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ¼ lengths 55.5)

Burgundy Rose (3 f Burgundy - Paraiba) - Jason Laking; was easy from the outside gate, seventh with cover to the 400m and without urging she galloped home strongly near the rail for third.

Bred by Te Akau principal David Ellis and owned by the Te Akau Roses Are Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she annihilated her rivals winning a Maiden in October at Taupo, and freshened following a very close second in November at Awapuni. 

Heat 6 Maiden 1000 metres (2 ½ lengths, head 57.5)

Dublin Rose (4 m O'Reilly - Irish Dream) - Jason Laking; trailed on the inner from barrier two and not asked for too much she kept up a strong gallop for third. 

Unlucky not to have won, having registered three seconds, three thirds and, three fourths, from 11 starts. Her dam Irish Dream, by Savabeel (Zabeel), won three races and a sister to Group One winner Shillelagh, Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore, and the Te Akau trained stakes winning mare Grazia. Owned by the Te Akau Dublin Rose Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for $130,000, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. 

Heat 7 Maiden 1000 metres (nose, 1 ¾ lengths 57.3)

Xplosion (3 f Showcasing - Xpress) - Jason Laking; was handily placed throughout, left to her own devices, and sustained a good gallop to finish on the heels of the leaders in fourth.

Twice third from four starts during a spring campaign, Xplosion was purchased by David Ellis for $115,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Nala Park, and owned by Te Akau Xplosive Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). She is the year younger sister to Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Xpression, who also finished second to Te Akau Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) and third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).  

Trials Tuesday 10 December at Avondale -

Weather: overcast, track: Good3, rail: out 11 metres

Heat 2 Open 1000 metres (head, 1 length 1:00.0)

Age of Fire (5 g Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail) - Opie Bosson; worked forward between horses on a competitive pace and under a hand ride he sustained a strong gallop to assert his authority near the line.

A Group One winning colt (Levin Classic, 1600m) purchased by David Ellis as a yearling at Karaka. Now owned by Cambridge Stud, he has returned from racing in Australia. 

Willpower (4 g Power - The Lady) - Andrew Calder; steadied to fifth of five, three lengths 600m, tracked clear at the 200m and when asked he quickened well into third. 

Purchased by David Ellis from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, he broke through at his fifth start to win in April at Matamata, and a lovely type of horse with the potential to win more.

Heat 3 Open 1000 metres (¾ lengths, 2 ¾ lengths 1:00.1)

Avantage (4 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant) - Opie Bosson; settled back from the outside draw, four lengths 600m, before quickening appreciably to lead at the 200m and she went on to win well. 

Crowned Champion Two-Year-Old after winning five of her six starts, including the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). Last season, she won the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) and spelled after a successful Australian campaign which saw her win the Birthday Card Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) at Rosehill, and finish third in the $1m Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (Gr. 2, 1200m) at Randwick. 

Bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling, from the Oaks Stud draft, Avantage has recorded seven wins from 12 starts and over a million dollars in prize money for the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Heat 5 2YO 800 metres (short neck, 1 ¾ lengths 45.5)

Yourpoint (2 g Bull Point - Dollhouse) - Opie Bosson; settled off a hotly contested pace from barrier one and not asked for too much after quickening into a challenging position, finishing third. 

In training for Chris Rutten, who raced Champion Two-Year-Old nominee and former stable-mate Yourdeel (Dundeel): winner of both juvenile Group Ones last season: Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m). By a son of Champion sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), his dam, Dollhouse, by Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), won three races to 1200 metres in Australia, from the family of NZ Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Rockabubble (Bubble Gum Fellow).

Be Flexi (2 f No Nay Never - Isabelino) - Ryan Elliot; got back, steadied off heels at the 600m and let down well when making good ground into fourth.  

Having her first trial and in training for owner-breeder Dr. Gene Tsoi, whom Te Akau trained New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year King's Rose (Redoute's Choice). 

Heat 6 2YO 800 metres (1 ¼ lengths, long head 45.1)

Perfect Scenario (2 c Iffraaj - Rosetti Bay) - Opie Bosson; steadied behind a competitive pace from barrier one and a touch green when running home strongly for second. 

By a high-quality stallion with 10 individual Group One winners and 71 stakes winners worldwide, his dam, Rosetti Bay (Pins), was an impressive Group Three winner and multiple group placed mare that won eight races and already left very good stakes winner Queens Rose who also won eight. He was purchased by David Ellis for $165,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Woburn Farm, for owners in the Te Akau Perfection Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Speed of Light (2 f Proisir - Light Source) - Danielle Johnson; was outside the leader on a competitive four-way pace and sustained a solid gallop to finish close up in fourth.

By Leading Second Season Sire Proisir (Choisir), she is from a young Iffraaj mare, the same as Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands). Owned by the Te Akau Leading Light Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis for $37,500 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Fairdale Stud. 

Heat 7 2YO 800 metres (¾ lengths, head 45.2)

Philipsburg (2 g Per Incanto - Saint Martins) - Opie Bosson; was back initially before rushing around to lead at the 600m and kept going strongly to win well. 

In training for Aquis Farm, his dam, Saint Martins (Darci Brahma), won twice to 1600 metres, from a strong international family with Sadler's Wells siring multiple stakes producing grand-dam Jeanetta Cochrane.

2 g Iffraaj - Bellazeel - Danielle Johnson; steadied out of tight quarters, four lengths 600m and while remaining held together he tracked through nicely into fourth. 

Having his first trial, by a high-quality stallion with 10 individual Group One winners and 71 stakes winners worldwide, his dam, Bellazeel (Zabeel), was a good quality staying mare that impressed winning over 2100 metres, while grand-dam La Bella Dama (Desert Sun) has left six individual winners of 28 races and over NZ$2.5 million in prize money. Owned by Bill and Sandra Duell, he was purchased by David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Trelawney Stud. 

Heat 8 Maiden 800 metres (head, 2 ¼ lengths 44.5)

3 f Atlante - Tropical Punch - Opie Bosson; got back off a line of four in front and a touch green around the turn, she sustained a good gallop once balanced in the straight and held together through the line in fifth. 

Having her first trial, and in training for the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange, her dam, Tropical Punch (Faltaat), was Group Three and Listed placed to 1600 metres, and the filly carries a Mr. Prospector cross as the sire of Faltaat and through the dam lines of Atlante.

Heat 10 Maiden 800 metres (¾ lengths, 6 ½ lengths 44.4)

3 f Shooting to Win - Kekova - Opie Bosson; was fourth of four early, improved to third rounding the home turn and held together she sustained a good-looking gallop in second. 

In training for Sam & Catriona Williams (Little Avondale Stud) and connections, dam Kekova (Elusive City) won impressively to 1600 metres, including the Wairarapa Breeder's Stakes (Listed, 1600m) and Great Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m), and a half-sister to another very good LA Stud stakes performer, Rapid Kay (Towkay), leaving five individual winners of 18 races.

Heat 13 Maiden 1200 metres (neck, 1 ½ lengths 1:14.2)

Madame Cherie (3 f Ocean Park - Glitterati) - Opie Bosson; worked forward off the outside gate to lead and fought solidly for fourth. 

She was purchased by David Ellis for $40,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Riverrock Farm. From an International family, bred by Sheikh Mohammed, rich in stakes performers over staying distances, her dam, Glitterati (Observatory), an impressive looking mare, has left two individual winners of six races up to 1700 metres. 

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